Juvenile delinquency is currently creating havoc to public morale globally and particularly, in Eswatini. Although differences in behavior are inescapable in any social system with established conventions, diversion and delinquency has a negative effect on the general population. There is extensive proof that communities need to manage delinquency in juveniles, who might grow up to be criminals if not given appropriate assistance. Furthermore, juvenile delinquency has become one of the most significant topics with which scholars and policymakers from many backgrounds are struggling. The study described in this article dealt with the topic from the perspective of rehabilitation of juvenile offenders. The research aim was to investigate the perceptions of former learners and teachers, a psychologist and social workers regarding the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders in a facility in the Manzini region of Eswatini to understand juvenile rehabilitation; determine the methods used and challenges experienced; and recommend strategies to improve the rehabilitation of the two groups of adolescents admitted to the facility.

Inderbitzin [1], who researched juvenile rehabilitation in the United States (US), claims that researchers have been investigating the best and worst strategies for managing  deviant  behaviour  in  young people. In the US, juvenile correctional facilities, sometimes known as training schools, reform schools, or juvenile prisons for delinquent adolescents, were created to supplement punishment with rehabilitation methods that help a juvenile offender to achieve the highest, feasible level of function, freedom and quality of life. 

According to Danquah-Amoah and Charan [2], rehabilitation from a clinical perspective involves providing comprehensive medical treatment to those who have been disabled as a consequence of an injury, disease or developmental condition. Miriam [3] concur with the above statement, adding that rehabilitation allows people to regain their independence following sickness, injury or surgery. A broad group of specialists are needed to help individuals to be restored to health or normal life. Therefore, an integrated team of health-care clinicians would work with patients to help them achieve their physical, mental, psychosocial, economic and educational potential while staying on track with their goals and life plans. In the context of juvenile behavioural rehabilitation, several specialists, such as professional instructors, social workers, psychologists, teachers and correctional services personnel, would collaborate to devise a treatment plan to ensure long-term improvement in juvenile delinquent behaviour.

Miriam [3] adduces that rehabilitation assists in the restoration of an individual's health, functioning and well-being, rather than repairing the harm caused by illness or trauma. Therefore, a rehabilitation school should have an interdisciplinary team of professionals with sufficient knowledge of rehabilitation methods that change the behaviour of juvenile offenders so that they can lead a crime-free life once discharged and no longer be a burden to society.

The essential component of behavioural rehabilitation, according to Ireland’s Children's Act [4], is to help convicted juvenile offenders to learn to regulate unseemly behaviour that negatively affects others, including family members, friends and co-workers, by providing appropriate educational programmes [4]. These programmes should ensure the psychological/physiological health of young offenders, protect them from physical danger and look after their interests through counselling, monitoring and facilitating a positive relationship between them and society.

In a study conducted in Kenya, Mucemi [5] found that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development handles children's issues through an institutionalised system that supports child development and makes juvenile rehabilitation the responsibility of rehabilitation schools. Kenyan rehabilitation facilities take in Children who have broken the law and in theory, aim to reform these potentially violent criminals, boost their self-confidence and reintegrate them into society. However, these reform schools have become a place for punishment, instead of providing the social/academic education and spiritual direction that would ensure that young offenders can be admitted to regular schools upon release or become useful members of society. On the 7th of August 2015, His Majesty King Mswati 111 formally launched the delinquent centre in Eswatini, praising former Commissioner General Isaac Mzuthini Ntshangase of His Majesty's Correctional Services for the excellent concept. According to Newsletter [6], every parent wants their children to succeed in life, regardless of criminal activity. They frequently regard their children as an extension of themselves. As a result, a rehabilitation centre provides their children with the opportunity to correct the mistakes they have made in the past.

According to Magagula [7], after the former commissioner general had witnessed the difficulty that parents face when raising uncontrollable children, he decided to open doors to help them. According to Magagula [7], Ntshangase stated that the reformation facility not only helped lawbreakers but also helped “in the battle against crime by uprooting elements from infancy age.” According to the Times Sunday, the youngsters are "contained, transformed, and reunited with society." Moreover, the school accepts students who are both lawbreakers and those whose parents have decided to send them there because of their children’s maladjusted behaviour.

The above-mentioned Eswatini juvenile facility strives to provide children with essential life skills in order for them to develop healthy behavioural patterns that will benefit the environment and society. Through extension services, the rehabilitation centre delivers formal and non-formal education. Adolescents transitioning to adulthood need help to develop self-respect and self-efficacy, which will enable them to build relationships and cope with peer pressure, family difficulties and financial constraints. If they do not receive adequate developmental support, they are more likely to become involved in illegal activities. In addition, maintaining long-term connections with appropriate adult role models is important for adolescent development.

Despite the objectives of the rehabilitation facility in the Manzini region of Eswatini, on which the study focussed, and many others, some young offenders are not successfully rehabilitated. However, relatively little research has been conducted on the rehabilitation of young offenders, compared to the many studies that have focussed on that of adult offenders. Therefore, the current study investigated the rehabilitation of misbehaving adolescents and juveniles convicted of crimes in the Manzini region of Eswatini.

Statement of the Problem 

Developing countries are lacking in addressing the problem of delinquents despite this being a global problem. They lack systematic, task oriented and effectual psychotherapeutic measures to rehabilitate actual and potential juvenile delinquents. This observation motivated the researchers to focus on the Manzini rehabilitation centre in Eswatini (Swaziland). A rehabilitation facility, according to Alamu and Mankinde [10], is a location where a delinquent youth should be dissuaded from his/her deviant ways, not via threats of punishment but by changing his/her thoughts, objectives, and values. Moreover, juvenile rehabilitation institutions should strive to provide children with critical life skills in order for them to develop positive attitudes and behaviour that will benefit the environment and society. According to Magagula [7], the Manzini rehabilitation facility’s goal is to rectify offenders by providing appropriate educational programmes for juvenile offenders that cater for their psychological/physiological health and interests. 

The facility houses two groups of students: those who have run afoul of the law and delinquents who have been brought to the facility by their parents because they have misbehaved. However, it is claimed that either one group or both do not come out of the facility rehabilitated and might even display more deviant behaviour. Therefore, the research aimed to investigate the perceptions of former learners and teachers, a psychologist and social workers at the facility to understand juvenile rehabilitation, with a view to solving the problem of its lack of success. The study’s two objectives were to assess the methods currently used in Eswatini facility to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents as well as to explore the challenges faced in the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents.

Literature Review

Theoretical Framework:The research was influenced by Thompson’s [11] social learning hypothesis, which asserts that a person's personality is formed over time via interactions with others. Moreover, a person's ideas and expectations, as well as his/her learning and social experiences, impact his/her conduct. Therefore, the theory indicates that internal and external variables combine to impact human learning and behaviour.

The research was particularly guided by Albert Bandura's [12] theory of social learning. According to this theory, juvenile delinquents may learn disorderly behaviour from their primary environment, which might include their parents, or their secondary environment, which might include their classmates. In the same vein, young people might commit crimes because of the influence of the general behaviour of their community. 

Bandura’s [12] theory holds that people can change their behaviour on their own and improve their social skills by being exposed to others who exhibit appropriate personal qualities [12]. In other words, a triadic, reciprocal interplay between the environment, personal variables (beliefs, desires, expectations, self-perceptions, and interpretations) and individual behaviour is what social learning entails. This theoretical perspective suggests that for assured success in reducing criminal behaviour, interventions should integrate a social learning framework that accounts for both individual and environmental factors.

Related Literature

Juvenile Delinquency: Mambende, Nyandoro, Maunganidze and Sawuti describe juvenile delinquency as antisocial behaviour exhibited by some youths. Citing, Farrington, the researchers point out that it includes but not limited to drug abuse, weapon carrying and use, alcohol abuse, truancy, vandalism, bullying and cultism. Juvenile delinquency is usually determined by socioeconomic factors, and the type and scope of a juvenile delinquent, according to McMasters [13], is a people below the age of 18 who engages in criminal behaviour for which they would have been charged as an adult. A juvenile delinquent is a term used to describe a young child who is rebellious or juvenile offending. One example of delinquency is the use of filthy language. Running away from home without permission from your parents, spending time unnecessarily visiting casinos, strolling around train stations, streets, and marketplaces to mention a few, there are sexual crimes, shoplifting, and stealing.

Juvenile delinquency in Eswatini is similar to those of any other community. In addition to the foregoing acts of delinquency, Eswatini children engage in a variety of deviances, including pickpocketing, murder, theft, truancy, fighting, fraud, sexual perversion, and many others. Burglary, rape, smoking, and other delinquent behaviour are all linked to a bad home environment and undesirable personality features. Delinquent behaviour is linked to poverty and illiteracy among village parents in rural settings. Mambende conclude that juvenile delinquency is driven by broken homes, authoritative parenting styles, poverty and lack of parental love and attachment. Savignac alludes to family dynamics such single parenthood, stability of family incomes as well as parents’ level of education as determinants of juvenile delinquency. Raj Ram link the delinquency phenomenon in youths to parental absenteeism, mother dominance, father rejection, peer pressure, bad parental role models and poverty.  Khairudin and Sulaiman point to personal, cognitive constructs as well as family dynamics.

Juvenile Rehabilitation                     

Rehabilitation is defined by Alamu and Makinde [10] as a process aimed at achieving change in some aspect of a guilty party that is considered to be causing the wrongdoer's state of mind, subjective procedures, identity, or emotional wellbeing to become unstable. It's important to remember that rehabilitation necessitates a variety of psychosocial programs and services aimed at assisting offenders in addressing a variety of needs connected to their criminal behavior and attaining a more productive and meaningful existence. Furthermore, rehabilitation necessitates the preparation of delinquents for re-entry into society as helpful and honest members of a larger group.

This means that even though the primary aim of the correctional services is to punish unlawful behaviour and in the process correct delinquents so that they change in to law abiding citizens the main aim should not be the physical punishment but the change of attitudes, values and any According to Chifungula, quoted by Alamu and Makinde [10], rehabilitation entails altering a wrongdoer's behavior by addressing social, mental, and other aspects associated to wrongdoing. With the goal of preventing youngsters from re-irritating, a hostile individual is changed to social reasoning, inadequate job aptitudes, tranquilize manhandle, and limited training. As a result, after delinquents are released, they can live a life free of wrongdoing, which can have substantial benefits for the community by reducing wrongdoing and its associated costs.

Corporal punishment should not be a part of the culture of juvenile detention institutions. Additional aspects of wrongdoing as a result, the criminal must be prepared to reintegrate into society after serving his or her sentence (full or partial). On a related note, it is the responsibility of important experts who aid in the rehabilitation of delinquents to guarantee that delinquents are psychologically prepared during the rehabilitation process, as well as taught skills to enhance work ability. In support of this, Merton's cultural deprivation theory states that the difference between cultural objectives and means of achieving those goals produces a strain, and that this strain leads to individuals seeking illegal ways to achieve those goals.

The term delinquency might be used to describe this notion. As a result, according to this theory, there will be an imbalance between what society expects of them to achieve, which may include meeting their basic needs, and the means of meeting those expectations, leading ex-convicts to return to illegal methods of meeting those needs, such as stealing, in order to survive. As a result, the institution must provide unique programs to avoid substance abuse, enhance mental health, and provide on-going education tailored to sexual offenders, women parolees, and children in legal trouble. 

In affirmation, Lekareva, Zaretskiy, Artamonova argue that rehabilitation of minors and thir resocialisation in society is very important. The researchers argue that pedagogical, social, psychological factors and criminal experiences strong consideration in ensuring the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. They also allude to the fact that comprehensive rehabilitation of a juvenile must focus on six fundamental aspects:

• Pedagogical rehabilitation which relates to the restoration of the educational status of the juvenile through inclusive techniques and paying attention to psychosocial development

• Medical rehabilitation and physical development which involves ensuring the physical development and re-establishment of the juvenile enabling them to develop health life styles and find sporting activities to occupy them to prevent relapses

• Psychological rehabilitation which entails repairing the psychological wellbeing of the juvenile, boosting their self-esteem and ensuring the settings around them enable positive development and growth

• “Special rehabilitation” which focuses on correcting deviations in both the mental and psychological status of the child, helping in behaviour change

• Social rehabilitation which deals with repairing of the social status of the juvenile with the family, the education system and the society at large.  The objective is to assist them with coping mechanism to re-integrate into society, deal with the negative vibes, and lack of trust including the general unwelcoming nature of society towards delinquents

• Vocational labour our skills rehabilitation revolving around imparting skills and vocational knowledge through training, learning and doing

Juvenile Rehabilitation Techniques

Inmate Education and Rehabilitation:Education initiatives in jail, according to Khuda [8], assist in giving convicts a second opportunity.Delinquents who participate in educational programmes are 43% less likely to commit a crime and return to jail within three years than those who do not. This is sufficient proof that education has a good impact on delinquents. Those who leave jail with a higher level of education than when they arrived become useful members of a community. It is a well-known truth that individuals respect others with education, talents, values and a positive attitude.

Juvenile delinquents who have not learnt English are at a disadvantage when trying to re-enter the workforce. English language instruction has become an important component of rehabilitation centre educational programmes. In addition, inmates profit from prison education programmes that teach them how to access information (information literacy). 

Punishment

The concept of rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system is that rather than threatening a child with punishment, altering beliefs, aims and values should be the focus. This is based on the premise that children lack the moral maturity of adults, and hence not entirely accountable for their actions. However, when a person commits a crime, it is often accepted that the state is justified in punishing him/her, even though punishment is harmful in some cases, especially corporal punishment. Therefore, it is critical to evaluate punishment in terms of its justification and specific application. 

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution [9] stressed that any penalty must be compatible with the preservation of the juvenile's inherent dignity and the primary objective of institutional care, which is to promote a sense of justice, self-respect and respect for everyone's fundamental rights [9]. All disciplinary methods that are harsh, inhumane, or humiliating to the juvenile in question, such as corporal punishment, incarceration in a dark cell, locked or solitary confinement, or any other punishment that jeopardises the juvenile's physical or mental health are prohibited.

Counselling Rehabilitation for Inmate 

Counsellors play a critical part in the reformation of inmates. During the duration of their term, inmates are counselled by these professionals. Depending on the offender, a Prison Counsellor will provide different types of support. This means that the sort of counseling provided varies from one person to the next. Themes in the areas of vocational, intellectual, social, and personal development are all addressed. The major purpose is to offer convicts with rehabilitation that will allow them to explore new talents and get fresh perspectives on their goals and motives. Additionally, disorders such as depression, stress, and drug addiction necessitate counseling. This can happen in a group setting or one-on-one. On the other hand, good counseling programs give the essential assistance for people to reflect on the life events that lead to criminal conduct, accept responsibility for their actions, alter lifetime habits of violence and addiction, and create productive lives. Chaplains, volunteers, and others should visit prisons and provide counseling services, and the rehabilitation facility should employ professional counsellors and ensure continuous training to renew knowledge and keep up with, chaplains, volunteers, and others should visit prisons and provide counseling services. Their practice also extends to adolescent prisoners and the general public. Utilizing the counseling services provided while in jail is a great step toward recovery [8].

According to the findings of research by Augustine, Briston, and Dankitt [10], 64.4 percent of correctional officials feel that counseling helps offenders recover. In addition, 53.8 percent of respondents thought that therapy, rather than punishment, would help offenders rehabilitate. This highlights the need of competent counseling as part of correctional activities as opposed to pushing for penalties as a method of rehabilitating convicts' lives. Correctional officials (58.7%) reported feeling satisfied after interacting with prisoners, indicating that they had a favourable attitude toward convicts. As a result, this result is an excellent predictor of a favourable environment for for inmates’ rehabilitation.

Inmate Wellness Rehabilitation

Physical and mental wellbeing, according to Mutui [11], provides clarity and purpose to many convicts during their term. Inmates may be able to engage in activities such as yoga, sports, and physical fitness, depending on the facilities' offers. Regular recreational activities enhance mental and physical workouts, providing long-term benefits such as stress and anger management, among others.

Inmates can take part in programs like dog training; culinary courses, gardening, and other activities that help them gain valuable skills. While sustaining positivity throughout a prison sentence may be difficult, some jails provide programs to help convicts in bringing a bright light into their life.

Inmate Rehabilitation in the Community

The goal of the rehabilitation centre is to reform and shape delinquents so that they may return to their communities. As a result, the facility must help delinquents integrate back into society once they leave the institution. Re-entering society and taking measures to reintegrate into society is an important part of the recovery process. There are numerous factors that go into effectively adjusting to life after jail. Ex-offenders who have a community support structure are more likely to remain ex-offenders. Participating in the community establishes accountability in the form of collective responsibilities. Feeling a sense of belonging is priceless, whether it comes from church, volunteering, or social activities. As a consequence, there are more chances for pleasant interactions and fewer chances for criminal behavior. Furthermore, the relationships created within these community groups may lead to job possibilities, which are a crucial step in reintegrating into society and avoiding recidivism [10].

Program of vocational Education and Training

According to Mucemi, occupational trainings can also be rehabilitative by boosting rehabilitees' talents and providing them with skills that would help them improve their marketability after release [5]. Occupational skills taught at Kenyan rehabilitation schools include carpentry, sign writing, masonry, electrical wiring, tailoring, tin smiting, basketry, and agriculture. At the Eswatini rehabilitation centre, you may learn about agriculture, embroidery, and carpentry.

Agricultural Activities

According to Ngudo, in a research conducted in Maseru, male criminals said that they engage in agriculturally focused activities. Landscaping, gardening (where they plough the area for producing vegetables), and animal care (such as cattle, poultry, and piggery projects) are among them. Some people said they engage in gardening and lawn care to keep their minds from wandering. As a result, experts at the rehabilitation centre as well as parents must guarantee that they modify the way they socialize their children so that there is no distinction between male and female subjects. Children are a unique breed. Children work in the garden, growing vegetables for consumption, and feed animals such as pigs, with a few caring for cattle. They are considered to be teaching agriculture or farming using the skills they learn from the activities. The reports stated above may help offenders develop skills that they may use to cope with the problems that life throws at them, which may cause them to re-offend.

Inmate Employment Rehabilitation

Because finding job is a major element in recidivism, education programs are critical because they make it simpler for delinquents to find work once they are released. When ex-offenders re-enter society without marketable skills, a domino effect occurs, often leading to new criminal activity. To break the pattern, you must find meaningful job and make a contribution to society. Being able to support oneself is beneficial both financially and emotionally [8].

Recreational Pursuits

For most delinquents, the rehabilitation institution is a source of strain and stress, thus recreational activities are necessary to ease the stress and tension of being in a correctional facility. These exercises have the ability to unlock the potential and skill of the offenders. According to a study published by khudo [8] delinquents who participated in litolobonya, a Maseru traditional dance, played netball, football, and basketball, watched television, and played snooker were said to be adjusting to society and its standards.

Spiritual Pursuits

Offenders should be permitted to follow their own spiritual beliefs while serving in the institutions, according to a General Assembly decision from 1990. In a study conducted in Maseru, an ex-offender acknowledged that church services were permitted once a week, but that this was discriminatory because only Christianity was permitted, while other religions like as Islam and others were not. This verified that offender' spiritual needs are fulfilled by attending church services; however, additional activities such as singing in church choirs, engaging in bible studies, or seeking spiritual counseling were not noted. The ex-offenders claimed that the religious provision was skewed and based on the interests of on-duty authorities [8].

Challenges Faced in The Rehabilitation of Inmates

Inadequate Education

According to Mutui [11], a shortage of personnel and insufficiently trained staff, who do not understand their role in rehabilitating delinquents, are challenges. The prevalence of unprofessional personnel in some South African jails has been blamed on poor hiring procedures. To work in a jail, an individual is only required to have basic legal or administrative skills. Such training, whether gained through the civil service or the military, are seen as sufficient, and therefore unskilled workers are employed.

Overcrowding

A large number of prisoners in a facility put a strain on it, and overcrowding in African prisons has a ripple effect across the jail system. It affects management and administrative procedures, as well as the offenders’ health. In addition to causing physical and psychological discomfort, a large number of convicts restrict the possibility of rehabilitative methods being used. In addition, overcrowding inhibits prisoners’ basic human rights, reducing not just their personal space but also their opportunities for both physical and mental stimulation. 

According to Ramagaga [12], overcrowding in prisons, is the major factor, which impedes effective rehabilitation, since there is no space available to conduct focus groups, role-play and counselling on one-to one with the offenders. Furthermore, Stevens [13] documented that overcrowding in prisons, gives the inmates opportunity to discuss the best methods to assassinate and destroy their victims, as they perceive prisons as the “school of crime”.

Resources and Facilities are Insufficient

Prisoners frequently suffer from a range of illnesses as a result of poor living conditions, poor food, and poor medical care. Among these illnesses include tuberculosis, respiratory tract infections, and other water-borne disorders. On the other side, transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS is a prominent focus [5]. Given the growing incidence of HIV/AIDS in Africa, it is inescapable that infected offenders would bring the virus into prison with them. As a result, it's nearly certain that inmates in Africa's prisons will get HIV, and that many of them will die as a result of their illness.

Scarcity of After-Care Services

Aftercare can be defined as reintegrative services that prepare out-of-home placed juveniles for re-entry into the community by establishing the necessary collaborative arrangements with the community to ensure the delivery of prescribed services and supervision [14]. Gies, [15] further defined after-care as monitoring the offender to determine if they are adjusting to their new surroundings and assisting them in dealing with the challenges that come with transition.

After graduating from the program, participants are placed in industry-related jobs and receive long term aftercare services that link treatment with community safety. The treatment services focus on connecting youth with continuing education, counseling, substance abuse treatment, housing services, and employment and re-employment assistance [16].

Delinquents must reintegrate into society after being imprisoned. However, providing ex-offenders with minimal or no after-care services is inefficient if not done at all. Several groups pay visits to inmates to provide assistance. This should be supplied after incarceration as well. Pre-released programs should be given to delinquents.

Many ex-offenders stated that while they appreciated the help they received before to their release, they did not get after-care or follow-up services following their release. They stated that such support was crucial in assisting them in adjusting to life outside of jail. Some participants expressed concern that the transition was too abrupt, given that they had gotten help while in jail but now get little or no support from professionals or the community once they are released.

Counseling, food boxes, temporary housing, and ensuring that their financial requirements are fulfilled are all part of this after-care program. These services are critical for a successful reintegration. The first few months following their release are the most vulnerable; ex-offenders are frequently confronted with the harsh realities of re-entry. The function of after-care programs is critical in assisting ex-offenders in adjusting to life outside of jail. Failure to provide such assistance may raise the likelihood of recidivism. Professionals should assist ex-delinquents in finding work, financial assistance, and housing during the after-care phase.

Asamoah, Juliana MameEfua, [17] concurred with the above on intensive aftercare service. Emphasis was on adolescent successfully completion treatment programs, they should not be abruptly returned to the environment where the misconduct occurred without appropriate supervision and transitional support. Consequently, intensive aftercare programs that provide high levels of social control and treatment services have gained substantial support.

Struggle with Environmental Change

The jail atmosphere is defined by its own culture and routine. As a result, one develops accustomed to the prison routines and ways of living, and readjusting to regular life outside of the prison walls becomes a problem after a number of years [11]. Mutui [11] further asserts that as a result of shift, a number of participants reported that the transition from jail to normal life was connected with psychological stress. They also mentioned that their difficulty adjusting was compounded by their lack of resources to deal with the shift, such as material and financial resources [11].

It's clear that many ex-offenders struggle to adjust to life outside of the rehabilitation center. This is exacerbated by the fact that many convicts struggle to reintegrate into their families and find work after they are freed. Furthermore, many inmates spend time in prison developing attitudes and ways of living that will make it difficult for them to transition to life in society after they are released. The prison world is not just distinct from normal society; upon release, criminals are thrust into a world that is vastly different from the one they knew before to their imprisonment. Adjustment is difficult as a result of this, and the stress and strain that results can lead to recidivism. As a result, it's critical for probation officers to focus on psychologically preparing offenders for the new environment they'll be entering after they're released.

Complex of Inferiority

Another issue that many participants face is the inferiority mind-set. Participants said that spending a long time in jail contributed to a sense of stagnation in their lives [11]. They said that by the time many of them were released from jail, they had missed out on crucial possibilities for advancement compared to their contemporaries. This resulted in a great degree of tension and remorse, both of which are tough to cope with. It exacerbated emotions of inadequacy and remorse, which are a psychological burden that requires expert assistance and support.

People and society as a whole have gotten used to rapid change and growth. This is because, because jail means immobility, a person who spends a few years in prison will undoubtedly miss out on chances. When one sees how one's contemporaries have progressed in life, one is likely to be disappointed. This result has ramifications in the field of social work. It is critical for social workers and other professionals working in the field of offender rehabilitation and reintegration to thoroughly comprehend the problems that ex-offenders may encounter and for which they may require assistance and counseling. If feelings of remorse and inferiority are not addressed, and psychological concerns are not treated, it is conceivable that reoffending may occur. 

Unemployment

Despite having the requisite skills and credentials, a criminal record and serving a term has a detrimental influence on a delinquent's career chances. It's partly because prospective companies see hiring ex-offenders as a risk they don't want to take. In other words, society is harsh when it comes to providing ex-offenders second chances and job prospects [18]. While this is reasonable, giving ex-offenders the opportunity to find meaningful employment is just ineffective. As a result, recidivism becomes the norm [19].

Stress, poor self-esteem, sadness, and self-doubt can all be symptoms of unemployment. As a result, the ramifications for them and society are devastating. Ex-offenders must thus be provided with job possibilities in order to aid their reintegration into society and decrease the risk of recidivism. Employment possibilities provide a source of income for ex-offenders. This improves the chances of a successful recovery. As a result, advocating for criminals to gain job prospects should be considered a critical component of a complete crime-fighting strategy.

The research adopted an interpretivism research paradigm. The research advocates for constructivism research paradigm. It views the world as one that can be viewed from multiple realities.  Reality is multiple and subjective and can be viewed from the eyes of participants.  Multiple methods can be used to investigate the word. The research philosophy is qualitative research oriented.  This study being an exploratory study, the researcher felt the research paradigm and its qualitative focus orientation was the best methodology to be adopted. Interpretivism study use interviews, focused discussion groups, literature review and document analysis as data collection methods among others. Qualitative methods were suitable for the study because it was human-centered [20] and they allowed the researcher to gather data from the participants who shared their perceptions of juvenile rehabilitation. Moreover, both Patton [21] and Silverman [22] indicate that in qualitative research, researchers can study participants’ experiences in length, breadth and depth, without being constrained by predetermined categories of analysis, and can follow a discovery-orientated approach in a natural environment [23].  Qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews and focused groups allowed the researchers to observe non-verbal cues, explore concepts deeper, and seek clarification  as well as to dig deeper on intriguing issues.

In the context of the study, qualitative research allowed the researcher to describe the experiences as perceived by the participants [24]. In simpler terms, the study aimed at discovering the views of the former delinquents and current teachers, a psychologist and social workers on what happens in the facility during the rehabilitation of delinquents. Moreover, the researcher perceived qualitative research as suitable for confirming existing theories because it would lead to rich data based on the participants` lived experiences.

Research Design 

Zainal, [25] explains that a case study design helps a researcher to scrutinise data within a frame of reference. Therefore, the researcher used this design to gather and analyse data with social learning theories and literature findings about juvenile rehabilitation centres as a frame of reference. The data were gathered from twelve former students (six were former convicts, and the other six were those brought by parents because of unruly behaviour) and eight teachers, one psychologist and two social workers. The researcher aimed to understand why the former learners’ current situation reflected or did not reflect the aim of the rehabilitation facility school. The samples ranging from one to eight for each group of participants was considered adequate in line with suggestions by qualitative researchers such as Blaikke and Malterud as well as Guest [15]. In simpler terms, the case study design was meant to help the researcher analyse the effect of the help provided by the facility on the rehabilitation of behaviourally troubled young persons and those convicted of crime. Moreover, the case study design provided a structured perspective on the group when interpreting the findings and coming up with possible solutions to the problem of rehabilitating juvenile offenders.

Data Validity, Reliability and Ethical Considerations

The researcher instruments were given to a senior psychologist for assessment for appropriateness, ambiguity and offensiveness.  Any areas of weakness pointed out were addressed. The interview instrument were piloted just to assess their adequacy in data collection and further refined. Member check was done with one psychologist and two teachers to confirm whether the transcribed interview scripts reflect the original discussions. This was meant to enhance conformability, credibility and trustworthiness of findings as recommended by Ryan.

Ethical Considerations

Research ethics refer to the set of widely accepted moral principles and rules that guide research. Research ethics prevent research abuses by placing emphasis on the human and sensitive treatment of respondents and participants [26]. Qualitative researchers therefore need to be sensitive to ethical principles, face-to-face interactive data collection and reciprocity with participants. The criteria for research design involve the selection of informants-rich participants, efficient research strategies and adherence to research ethics. The ethical guidelines include informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, privacy and others [5]. As the researcher has to conduct the research in an ethical manner to enhance quality and trust-worthiness, she got a letter from the Dean from the University of Amadi, Eswatini through the Midlands states university which introduced her to the director at the ministry of education  to seek permission to access the rehabilitation facility, the same procedure was followed where there researcher applied for permission from the Commissioner general at the His Majesty Correctional Services to collect data at the facility. 

Informed Consent

Heal and Forbes [27], argue that obtaining informed consent implies providing adequate information on what the research is about, the expected duration of the participants’ involvement, the procedures to be followed, possible advantages and disadvantages of participation, dangers to which participants may be exposed, and the credibility of the researcher’s communication with potential participants. A written informed consent form with accurate and complete information about the goal of the investigation was provided to participants. To ensure that participants fully comprehend the details of the investigation, the information was read to them, and they were given an opportunity to ask questions. Thereafter, the consent forms were distributed to the participants willing to participate in the study.  Participants were assured that if they need clarity they would be free to call the researchers at any time and they would be available to further clarifying contents. Participants were given time to think about their participation in this research, about their role as participants and about the information to share.

Research ethics requirements flow from the three principles, which are autonomy, non-maleficence and beneficence [20]. It means that the researcher has to respect and protect participants’ right and has to describe the intent use of data. Participants will not under any obligation to return the consent form if they themselves do not want to participate in the study. All consent forms would be collected and kept safe as per university’s rule. Participants were made aware that they are at liberty to withdraw at any stage of the research. If they feel uncomfortable with participating in the study.

Confidentiality 

It was explained to all the participants that their confidentiality going to be respected throughout the research and that their anonymity was going to be preserved throughout the research a. Confidentiality is about keeping the information private as it will not be intended for others to observe or analyse [27]. The data to be collected in this research was used for the purpose of this research only. The original copies of narratives and interviews were kept safe in the researcher’s locked cupboard. The consent forms were kept separately from the data, as surnames of the participants would appear on these forms. The separation was to ensure that even in cases of break-ins it would be difficult for anyone to link the consent forms to the narratives and interview responses as the latter are only identified by means of numbers and pseudonyms. Personal privacy was ensured by the use of pseudonyms. The participants’ responses were coded for data analysis. J for juveniles, T for teachers, S for social workers and P for psychologist. Only the researcher and her supervisor would be aware of the participant’s identities. 

Avoidance of Deception

Deception refers to misleading participants, deliberately misrepresenting facts or withholding information from them. Deception also involves offering incorrect information in order to ensure the participation of participants. It happens when the researcher misleads participants through verbal instructions, or the actions of the researcher and/or certain aspects of the setting. The information in this research was not plagiarised; all sources are acknowledged. Participants were told about the research and everything they would need to know about their involvement in the study. At no stage the participants were misled and the data to be presented in this study is a true reflection of what transpired during data collection. Participants were allowed to express themselves in English and Eswatini (local language). The researchers also made sure to conduct in-depth together and focused discussion groups together with the aim of avoiding biasness. At any given time during data collection, it was made sure at least two of the three researchers were present. The researchers compared notes afterwards and during data analysis [28].

Data Analysis

Data was analysed thematically being guided the two research objectives.  Thematic analysis is defined by Braun and Clarke as a method used in qualitative data analysis that enables one to identify, analyse and report patterns or themes emerging from the data. The themes and subthemes (codes) derived from the analysis allow researchers to capture recurrent issues emanating from the data. Data was analyses until saturation point was reached and this being the point where no new themes emerged from the data. The findings were grouped in line with the themes that emerged during the research. Inductive or deductive analysis was used. Since this was an exploratory qualitative research, narrative explanations were used to discuss the findings. These were further enhanced by verbatim quotations from participants.  Morse and argue that verbatim quotes are fundamental evidence in qualitative research for enhancing findings, provide clarification, elaboration and general thought provocation on some key matters.  They better accentuate the lived experiences of participants as well as their views.

Juvenile Rehabilitation

The first research objective was to find a definition of juvenile rehabilitation. The data analysis revealed that all the participants agreed that juvenile rehabilitation involves assisting young people in dealing their non-compliant behaviour and developing a more fruitful and fulfilling lifestyle, by changing their maladaptive behaviour into one that is acceptable to society. They added that the objective of a rehabilitation facility is to enable young people convicted of a crime or simply guilty of unruly behaviour to lead a life free of wrongdoing for the benefit of society.

The literature concurs with the participants’ definition. The Eswatini juvenile rehabilitation facility described in Newsletter [6] aims to provide delinquents with important survival skills so that they develop acceptable attitudes towards and behaviour in society and the environment. This means that the teachers, psychologists, officers and social workers in the facilities should provide delinquents with skills to become law-abiding citizens when they return to society. As explained above, the Irish Children’s Act [4], reveals that juvenile delinquents can taught to control deviant behaviour that may cause problems to the public, members of the family, peers and colleagues.

Methods Used in The Facility to Rehabilitate Juveniles

The second research objective was to discover the methods used in the facility to rehabilitate juveniles. The data analysis generated the following themes in this regard:

Education 

All participants agreed that education is used as one of the methods to rehabilitate juveniles. The following is a remark made by participant T6: 

“We employ both formal and informal education, with formal education involving qualified instructors presenting content guided by the curriculum and non-formal education involving vocational education and other forms of education”.

Khuda [8] agrees with the technique of rehabilitating juveniles stated above. Up to 43% of the time, educational programmes reduced the chance of re-arrest in Khuda’s [8] study. This indicates that delinquents who participate in education programmes are less likely to relapse into crime and return to prison within three years. Education empowers convicts with to information overcome their past and enjoy a better quality of life with clear, attainable goals.

Punishment

Participants (former learners) who had misbehaved expressed disappointment with the methods used in the rehabilitation facility. They argued that the educational environment was not as pleasant as it appeared. One former learner made the following remark:

'If you participated in undesirable behavior at the centre, you will be isolated from          others. Some privileges are taken away from you, such as calling your parents on the phone until your detention is over; guests are also not permitted to see you until your punishment is completed”.

Another learner said that there was a disciplinary committee, and that corporal punishment was common at the centre: “They don't simply give us three strokes; they beat us”.

A teacher used the term “siyatrabha meaning (we beat them).implying that the facility employed physical punishment as needed. She also explained that the school was expanding every day because it accepted learners who exhibited antisocial behaviour, and that some students were still waiting to be placed in classes and allocated classrooms. 

The facility's goal was to re-socialize juvenile criminals, develop their self-esteem and reintegrate them into society. However, as the above excerpts show, it had instead became a site of punishment. As stated above, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution [9] argues against inhuman punishment, including prevention of contact with family [9]. Furthermore, delinquents should not be denied contact with family members in any event. According to Khuda [8], the juvenile justice system, is based on the belief that a child who displays delinquent behaviour may be persuaded to change his/her ways by changing his/her thinking, objectives and values, rather than threatening punishment.

Recreational Activities

Recreational activities are important to relieve the stress and tension of being in correctional facilities; therefore, a lot more is needed for offenders. These activities might even unleash an offender’s potential and talent [8]. The ex-offenders and teachers reported that recreational activities, such as netball, football, basketball, watching TV and playing snooker were offered.

Spiritual Activities 

Religion appears to be a significant instrument in the convicts' rehabilitation, particularly in terms of guidance and counselling. The majority of the convicts (74%) identified as Christians, with the rest identifying as Muslims (26%).

Vocational Training Programmes

The majority of the learners agreed that vocational education was available, but that they had not all enrolled in the classes. However, at the centre, all convicts, regardless of their educational status, were expected to participate in some type of vocational training. Inmates at the centre have access to roughly 13 different vocational training programmes. Beading, carpentry, auto mechanic training, plumbing, tailoring and sewing are just a few examples. Inmates are supposed to be enrolled in a programme of their choice six months before their release. Participants (learners) who did not enrol for vocational education had the following to say:

“Vocational education was available, but I chose languages instead; I now have a bachelor's degree in educational psychology and am pursuing adult teaching”.

“I received eight credits and am awaiting notification from the University of Eswatini, where I applied for a position in Information Technology. ICT, agricultural, physical science, mathematics, English, SiSwati, and religious studies are among the credits listed from best to worst”.

According to Mucemi [5], vocational training helps delinquents gain skills that will help them enhance their marketability after they are released. Carpentry, electrical wiring, tailoring and agriculture are among the vocational training skills given at the Eswatini rehabilitation centre.

Counselling Rehabilitation for Inmates 

Inmates can seek therapy for concerns, such as depression, stress, or substance misuse, according to Augustine, Briston, and Dankitt [10]. This can happen in a group or one-on-one setting. In addition to the help given by the staff, convicts can seek counselling from a variety of non-profit groups. According to the data gathered from instructors and students, non-profit organisations (NPOs) focussed more on girls than boys because females are discriminated against because of their gender. The NPOs urged females to reflect on the events in their lives, which led them to criminal conduct or deviant behavior, and to accept responsibility for their actions. The emphasis was on breaking lifetime habits of aberrant behaviour and encouraging the girls to live productive lives. The boys felt that such focus meant the boss were less privileged in terms of access to counselling services and support yet counselling is important in rehabilitation. Nguku, Chege, Podera and Ndaita found out that counselling has a significant and positive relationship with behaviour. It is key to behaviour modification. In concurrence, Muregwa [5] asserts that counselling enhances discipline and builds self confidence among delinquents as it allows them to express their feelings confidently without fear and this stirs remorsefulness and positive communication. These aspects are key to effective rehabilitation

Challenges Faced in the Rehabilitation of Inmates

The third research objective was to discover the challenges faced in the rehabilitation of juveniles. The data analysis generated the following themes:

Readiness for Rehabilitation

The juveniles who went to the rehabilitation centre because of unruly behaviours said that they were affected psychologically, missed their parents and did not understand why they were there. 

“We feel like our parents were too hard on us taking us to this place, however though we were angry at them for the challenges we faced adapting to living at the rehabilitation centre we are grateful that we were able to complete SGCSE examination which it would have been difficult for us to achieve that if we were in public schools”. [FGD] 

“Going to the rehabilitation centre was a blessing in disguise because I am now at the University of Eswatini. Though I may not have stopped some habits I went there for at least my future is bright”.

All participants who were at the centre because of unruly behaviour reported that they were not fully rehabilitated because they had mixed with hard core criminals from whom they had learnt more deviant behaviour: 

“I've learned to date older men because I desire money and feel they've grown in a way that I can't get from a school kid. I also learned how to smoke dagga, which originated within the dormitories and we used to find a method to obtain it inside the rehabilitation centre despite the security. I wanted to try it because I saw my buddies do it, and unfortunately, I'm still doing it”.

The researcher asked former convicts if being at the juvenile centre had rehabilitated them. One participant answered as follows:

“Yes, my time at the facility taught me how to be a law-abiding citizen. If you do not follow all of the rules and regulations in the rehabilitation centre, you will be penalised. Changing was consequently a personal decision”. 

The participant referred to the behaviour of those who looted during protest action: 

“I did not participate in looting because I have been converted; I feel looting is illegal. I'm now a pastor and motivational speaker with a psychology degree and am working on another program in adult education."

However, five of those who had been convicted of crime feared going back to the rehabilitation centre because of the punishments, and they reported that the centre was a very uncomfortable place. 

The procedure of bringing juvenile delinquents to the centre is the most difficult aspect of their experience, although it is part of ordinary criminal court processes. A complaint must be filed, an arrest made, and a sentence from a competent court of jurisdiction must be obtained before the individual may be taken into the centre. Because they thought that they had not behaved illegally and were not meant to be punished like criminals, the behaviourally disturbed regarded the procedure as humiliating and felt that they had been rejected by society.

The dominant narrative that emerged from the views of teachers, psychologist, social workers and former learners regarding the challenges that the behaviourally disturbed faced during the rehabilitation process was that the young people developed psychological problems because they believe that their parents should have explored alternative options before sending them to a juvenile rehabilitation facility to live among hard-core criminals.

Lack of Human Resources

According to Mugerwa [5], rehabilitation centres have struggled with a lack of human resources. Therefore, caretakers (teachers) elect juvenile delinquents to be in charge of specific groups and dormitories because of the rising number of juvenile delinquents every day. However, juvenile delinquents who have been elected by the caretakers have a history of mistreating and abusing their peers, resulting in animosity and conflict among juvenile delinquents. Moreover, a former learners had the following to say:

“We were mixed in with individuals who had been convicted of crimes, and they abused us in the absence of authorities and teachers”.

The aforementioned comment was made by a learner who had been sent to the institution by parents because of misbehaviour. The remark indicates that mixing with hard-core criminals is not a safe environment, particularly in the dorms. They are aggressive and hamper the rehabilitation of those who were not criminals, who instead acquire anger issues and defence mechanisms that are not acceptable in the community.

Inadequate Training

Inadequate training, according to the report, is another obstacle in the recovery process. According to Mutui [11], African prisons are short-staffed, with few staff members receiving adequate training to assist them in understanding their role in juvenile rehabilitation. The following remark was made by a teacher:

“We're still looking for a means to penalise undesirable behavior now that corporal punishment is outlawed. Positive disciple has been presented, but as instructors, we still don't comprehend it, making it difficult for us to put it into practice. On the other hand, the institution accepts students with aberrant behaviours; the number of students admitted each year is rising, making it harder for us to focus on individual requirements”.

Other teachers claimed that they were simply regular instructors who had the same training as other public school teachers. Teaching children with deviant behaviour at a rehabilitation centre necessitates specific training in dealing with maladjusted behaviour. A teacher stated as follows:

“Even if there is inclusive education in public schools, it is not that deep for these kids with special needs, therefore we believe there should be additional training”. The findings suggested that the criminal activities in which inmates engage prior to being admitted to the rehabilitation centre are frightening. Furthermore, when they arrive at the rehabilitation centre, they occasionally communicate those activities to the teachers, and some of them are extremely harmful to the teachers. However, no one is concerned about the teachers' psychological needs. A teacher made the following comment:

“We are humans just like anybody else, and we believe the government, in collaboration with rehabilitation centre partners, should come up with a plan for how we should be treated emotionally and mentally in order to better rehabilitate the convicts”.

The study found that there was conflict between the teachers and the security personnel over the handling of juveniles. The teacher’s perceived the facility’s staff as lacking knowledge, which made it difficult, if not impossible, to rehabilitate the convicts successfully.

Lack of Psychosocial Support

The learner participants appeared not to recognise the value of the education at the facility, making it harder for rehabilitation to succeed. This suggests that learners need psychosocial support more than academic teaching and learning. Moreover, owing to their antisocial behaviour, more personal interaction and care is needed, despite the fact that enrolment continues to rise year after year. A teacher highlighted the need for holistic support, rather than just formal schooling:

“These students came here because they had deviant behaviours and need to be rehabilitated back into society, but it appears that the rehabilitation facility administration places a greater emphasis on completing the curriculum than on engaging in activities that will help meet the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the inmates and their families; we start class at 8:00 a.m. and finish at 1600 p.m., after which the inmates knock off, eat, and go to study." 

Poor Parental Involvement

Teacher participants felt that parents should fully involve themselves in the rehabilitation of their children. A teacher indicated that parents did not participate: 

“They take the rehabilitation centre as a dumping site for their children; they do not visit their children, nor follow up on the progress, the rehabilitation facility officers’ end up calling parents to come and check on their children and some would not show up”.

Responses from the former inmates who went the rehabilitation centre because they were unruly expressed a desire for parental involvement: 

“We feel we should be allowed to visit our parents because we did not commit any crime, we are not allowed to, we miss our parents, and sometimes the institution does not allow us to go for funerals for close family members”.

When a teacher asked about this matter said the following about parental involvement, which was apparently possible at the facility: “This is a correctional facility hence we can’t allow a certain group to visit their parents and the other not, they are all here because they were involved in deviant behaviours for that reason they will all serve here uniformly. Before they are admitted parents are oriented, the facility allows parents to visit their children anytime, hence if they don’t; we then call the parents to come check up on their children”.

Former juvenile delinquents who were in the facility because they had been convicted of a crime said that they did not care about being visited. When asked why, a learner responded as follows: 

“When I came here I was prepared psychologically that I will be serving here until I finish my sentence. In short I felt like I deserve to be here and I never hoped for any visitors and being released to go home before I finish my sentence”.

Studies show that without family support, access to basic necessities, such as clothing, shelter, food and accommodation may become difficult for a juvenile offender who has been released from a facility. Without this support from family and the community, the former inmate will not adapt to life outside prison and will be forced to commit crime again. Within the South African context, professionals such as social workers could play a vital role in helping to educate families and communities about the need to support ex-offenders when they are released from prison [13].

Relationships in the Family and Community Are Difficult to Repair

Repairing damaged connections with their family and the society at large is one of the most challenges participants reported [13]. The juveniles interviewed were from black townships, which are noted for their close family and neighborhood relationships. As a consequence, the majority of the community will be aware of a crime when it occurs. Participants indicated that after they were released from prison, their family and community rejected and ostracized them, making it difficult for them to reintegrate into society [13]. The majority of ex-offenders received very little help from their family and communities. Everyone keeps their distance from them; parents do not want them near their children because they believe they are capable of negatively influencing them. As a result, they are social outcasts.

Access to basic requirements such as clothing, housing, food, and lodging may become impossible without family assistance [14]. A life free of crime may become difficult without these fundamental requirements. Without the appropriate support and help from family and community to ensure that the criminal adjusts to life outside of jail, the burden of leading a crime-free life would most likely be overwhelming, and the offender will most likely re-offend. Professionals such as social workers may play an important role in educating families and communities in South Africa about the need of supporting ex-offenders when they are released from jail [13].

It can be concluded that the behaviorally disturbed teenagers were not entirely rehabilitated, as revealed by their replies. They claimed that there had been little change in their deviant behaviour after visiting the rehabilitation centre, where they had learnt worse habits. The students claimed that the institution would not allow them to see their parents, which was particularly difficult for those who were there for misbehavior. However, teachers, complained that some parents and relatives laid the burden of their children's rehabilitation on the institution while doing very little to support the programme themselves. In addition, the study found that the facility centre had become a site for punishment, rather than rehabilitation. 

Delinquency is not inborn; it is acquired and increases within an individual through time, transforming him/her into a juvenile offender, depending on the environment in which he/she lives. Thompson’s [11] and Bandura's [12] social learning theories claim that a person's personality is formed over time via interactions with others, indicating that learning and social experiences, as well as beliefs and expectations, influence behaviour. Therefore, parents, teachers, classmates and the general public should be educated to model behaviour that is consistent with societal standards in order for children to grow up in a healthy environment.

The rehabilitation centre featured in the study appeared to face variety of obstacles in rehabilitating juvenile delinquents. These challenges indicated a misalignment between the rehabilitation centre’s objectives and the means for achieving. Although the findings about the facility were based on the subjective perceptions of the interviewees, their opinions about the lack of behavioral change in some inmates and their general dissatisfaction with the rehabilitation system cannot be overlooked. The participants’ perceptions highlight the shortcomings of the current rehabilitation programme and emphasise the importance of implementing policies and strategies to enhance it as soon as possible. 

The group of juvenile offenders who had been brought to the facility by parents was not entirely rehabilitated, despite the fact that this was the goal of the rehabilitation centre. The group that was in the facility for criminal activity was able to replace a negative mentality with a desire to behave in a law-abiding way. The majority of the members of this group said that they were transformed citizens; some of them had become motivational speakers, and others were pastors. However, some of them had opted not to engage in aberrant behaviour because they were afraid of recidivism.

Limitations of The Study

The study could have suffered from methodological weaknesses such as bias. Considering the subject under investigation is sensitive and could stirrup emotions and traumatic experiences from the past, participants could have been emotional and gave biased accounts. Despite the fact that interviewees were assured of the preservation of their anonymity and confidentiality, they could still have been sceptical of the researchers and became apprehensive and withheld some information.  Lastly participants might have put themselves in positive light in their responses, this is one of the major weaknesses of self-reports in psychology.

Recommendations

Separation Of the Two Groups: The researcher recommends that the rehabilitation facility's approach of combining the two groups during the recovery process should be reconsidered. Differential diagnosis was also recommended by Savatia et al. (2020) who point out that there is need to get to the bottom of the root causes of delinquency so as to place delinquents and rehabilitate them accordingly. Separate them in accordance with their problems. Psychologists could help with the initial assessments. They could also consider having a conversation with the behaviorally disturbed delinquents to ensure that they realise that being a part of the rehabilitation facility is not a punishment, but rather an opportunity to help them become law-abiding citizens. Savatia [13] also recommend that institutionalization is not desirable for first offenders. These could be counseled and supported without committing them to the facility. This preparation process should be also followed with the juveniles convicted of crimes.

Community Service

Not every delinquent adolescent should be sent to a rehabilitation centre. Juveniles sent by parents to a facility because of unruly behaviour should rather be given community service, as they do not pose a threat to society. In addition, early childhood interventions during the first five years of life targeted at fostering well-behaved children should be encouraged to eliminate the issue of juvenile delinquency. 

Encourage Discipline and Behaviour Change as Opposed to Punishment

The facility should enforce positive discipline rather than harsh punishment. Positive disciplinary strategies should be taught to officers, educators and other personnel directly or indirectly involved in the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. Moreover, knowledge should be upgraded through staff-development seminars and other types of training that might help personnel enhance their skills in juvenile rehabilitation. 

Capacitation Of Rehabilitation Centres and Government Support

The government must capacitate rehabilitation facilities to handle juvenile rehabilitation effectively. More practitioners in the sector are needed to ensure that both groups of inmates are properly rehabilitated according to their unique requirements.

The government should also assist facilities in realising their full potential. Both infrastructure and human resources development, particularly in the case of professional counsellors, should be taken into account to ensure the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.

Areas Of Further Research

This being an exploratory study and using qualitative research, the stud could have suffered from the limitations of qualitative research such as lack of generalizability. Future researchers could use quantitative research methods or the mixed method approach to exploit the advantages of the two approaches.  This research used small samples and this being a sensitive and important matter affecting juveniles globally, perhaps larger samples could be used. More research is also needed to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation techniques used to assist delinquents as well as their impacts in the reformation or non-reformation of juvenile delinquents especially in African countries.

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